Author's Note: So, did I scare people with that last chapter, or are you all just as busy as I am? Anyway, I hope you'll like this one better. I promise that this story actually does have a plot, and it's not all "let's be happy and make it all better!" either. Those fics make me cringe. Happy Valentine's Day (yeah, right), and I hope you enjoy.

CHAPTER 3

She reached the familiar domed doorway and paused, feeling suddenly awkward and shy. She knew the code, but barging in seemed rude all of a sudden. Presumptuous. Trinity raised one hand to knock, then hesitated again, not wanting to disturb him if he was asleep. She let her hand drop limply back to her side and just stood there for a moment feeling utterly ridiculous. A year ago she had fought her way through Hel at gunpoint to get Neo back, and yet now she stood paralyzed in fear at the thought of knocking on his door. Just then the door creaked, making Trinity jump, and swung open to reveal Morpheus. He smiled that unnervingly knowing smile at her and gestured for her to take a step closer.

"I had a feeling you'd be here soon."

"I—" Trinity shook herself. "I got here as fast as I could. Is he—"

Morpheus nodded, holding up a hand for silence.

"Awake and all too alert. He's been asking for you."

Trinity managed a weak smile at that despite herself.

"So should I…" she trailed off, gesturing toward the door.

"Yes. I'm going to leave you two to yourselves." He took several steps past her, then turned back. "But Trinity…try to stay calm. He needs you to be strong right now. And stick to the candles, his eyes can't take anything brighter yet."

With that, he turned and strode off down the corridor without so much as a goodbye.

Trinity sighed, forced herself to take a deep breath, then punched in the code. She closed the door slowly, painstakingly making sure it didn't creak or slam. The room before her was almost unrecognizable, aglow with the light of what must have been twenty or thirty candles.

Like the whole thing was built with light…

She shuddered and forced the thought aside, making her way over to the bed. He was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, watching her silently. His pupils were huge in the dim light and for a moment she wondered if he could see her.

"Hey," she said at last, lamely.

Neo's entire face bloomed into a rare smile at that single word.

"Hey."

He shifted closer to the wall, making room for her. Trinity sat on the side of the bed and took his hand in both of hers, pressing it palm-up to her lips.

"How are you feeling?" she asked after a moment, still shy despite herself.

Neo pulled his hand free and brought it down to rest on her thigh, fingers playing idly along a wrinkle in her pants.

"Tired," he answered finally. "And more than a bit useless."

Trinity nodded silently, running a hand across his forehead, brushing back dark bangs. He shivered slightly under her touch and she pulled back a little, uncertain.

"Can you see?"

Neo sighed, an expression of utter frustration creeping over his features.

"yes, but not well. The doctors…they claim it'll get better over time." He laughed a little, darkly. "I can't decide which is worse, to not be able to see anything, or to see only a blur of colors."

"This is better," Trinity answered hastily. "I've missed your eyes."

Neo shook his head.

"I wish I could see yours."

"You will."

Neo sighed again, louder this time, and rolled over onto his back, scrubbing at his face with his hands.

"I'm so sorry, Trin," he said after a moment, his voice slightly muffled. "I shouldn't be doing this to you. Especially not now."

Trinity swallowed hard against the painful tightness in her throat, fighting for control.

"Don't be," she managed after a moment. "Don't ever be sorry."

He rolled over again, his back to her now, face still buried in his hands. She could see his shoulders shaking slightly.

"Neo…is there anything I can do?"

"Hold me, Trinity."

His voice was weak, broken. It was almost more than she could bear. She wrestled off her boots and crawled into bed beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek in the space between his shoulder blades, breathing in his scent.

He pulled away after a moment and rolled over, taking her in his arms. His lips trailed kisses along her chest and collarbone, hands exploring her body.

"Your hair," he whispered after a moment, breathless.

Trinity laughed at his surprise, the feeling bubbling in her stomach like an alcohol buzz.

"Yes."

"I thought you hated it long."

Trinity shrugged and slipped one leg up over his waist. She could feel his ribs pressing into her side. He'd lost an alarming amount of weight.

"I decided it was time for something different."

Neo smiled a little and ran his fingers through it.

"I like it. I think."

They were silent for a moment then, and the tension crept back into his face.

"What is it?" asked Trinity, resting one hand along his jaw.

Neo shook his head.

"It's just…I don't …Why did they bring me back, Trin?"

She sighed.

"I don't know. I don't think we'll ever know." She paused for a moment, trying to get up the courage to ask him the next question. "Are you glad they did?"

"I don't know. I guess I should feel grateful, right?"

"I don't care what you should feel, Neo. Only what you do feel. When they brought me back I was so angry….a part of me thought they did it as their last little attempt at making us all miserable. I just…I'm so tired of everything hurting." She regretted it the instant she'd said it, Morpheus' words echoing in her mind, but Neo didn't seem upset by it.

"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do now," he said softly. "The war is over. I never thought beyond the end of it. The only place I really have any power is in the Matrix, and there's no reason for anyone to jack in now. And here…well, I'm just another guy. Hell, not eve. I'm a guy who's a social failure."

"Neo." Trinity found his hand under the covers and squeezed it tightly. "You've spent so long living for everyone else. I know it's hard. But you're going to have to learn to live for yourself."

He nodded a little, still not completely convinced.

"I know…it's just…before I knew I was making a difference…now…well, it's almost like…before."

Trinity pushed lightly on his shoulder until he rolled onto his back. She leaned over, one arm on either side of him, lips just inches away from his.

"For what it's worth," she said softly, "I don't give a damn about wars or prophecies. You are, and always will be the one I love."

Neo cupped one hand against the back of her neck, then leaned up and kissed her. The sudden contact hit her like a wall, shattering all remnants of control. She pulled away, but not fast enough, desperately trying to salvage her calm. Neo wrapped his arms around her with surprising strength, pulling her on top of him.

"Trinity…you're crying." His voice was strangely filled with wonder.

She had never cried in front of him. Never.

She swiped roughly at her eyes, angry at her own weakness.

"Thought you couldn't see," she choked, burying her face against his shoulder.

"I love you, Trin," he whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry it has to hurt so damn much."

"Don't," she murmured. "Just stop apologizing. But jesus, I missed you, Neo."

She shifted her weight off of him, and he leaned over and kissed her again. After a long time he pulled away and wrapped his arms around her, rubbing his thumbs across her back in rhythmic little circles. She was almost asleep when he spoke again.

"Trinity?"

"Yeah?"

"We made it."

"You said we would."

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